AATOD was founded in 1984 to enhance the quality of patient care in treatment programs by promoting the growth and development of comprehensive methadone treatment services throughout the United States.

ARCOS is an automated, comprehensive drug reporting system operated by DEA. ARCOS is designed to monitor the flow of and provides a comprehensive tracking beginning at the manufacturer and ending with dispensing.

The ATTC develops and strengthens the workforce which provides addictions treatment and recovery services to those entering the treatment system. The ATTC Network consists of 14 Regional Centers and a National Office.

Authentication

The process of verifying the identity and credentials of a person before authorizing access to prescription data.

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. BJA supports law enforcement, courts, corrections, treatment, victim services, technology, and prevention initiatives that strengthen the nation’s criminal justice system.

CDC is one of the major operating components of the Department of Health and Human Services. CDC′s mission is to collaborate to create the expertise, information, and tools that people and communities need to protect their health – through health promotion, prevention of disease, injury and disability, and preparedness for new health threats.

The COE is within the Heller School for Social and Policy Management at Brandeis University and is funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. In collaboration with the PDMP Training and Technical Assistance Center, the COE provides academically sound information, evaluation and expertise to PDMPs.The COE also collaborates with a wide variety of PDMP stakeholders, including federal and state governments and agencies, universities, health departments and medical and pharmacy boards.

Controlled Substances

Certain drugs or substances whose possession and use are regulated by federal and state law because of their potential for abuse and diversion.

CSAT is part of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). CSAT promotes the quality and availability of community-based substance abuse treatment services for individuals and families who need them. CSAT works with States and community-based groups to improve and expand existing substance abuse treatment services under the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant Program. CSAT also supports SAMHSA’s free treatment referral service to link people with the community-based substance abuse services they need.

CSG is the nation’s only organization serving all three branches of state government. CSG is a region-based forum that fosters the exchange of insights and ideas to help state officials shape public policy.

DAWN is a public health surveillance system that monitors drug-related hospital emergency department (ED) visits and drug-related deaths to track the impact of drug use, misuse, and abuse in the U.S The DAWN system is operated and managed by SAMHSA.

DEA is within the U.S. Department of Justice. The mission of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is to enforce the controlled substances laws and regulations of the United States and bring to the criminal and civil justice system of the United States, or any other competent jurisdiction, those organizations and principal members of organizations, involved in the growing, manufacture, or distribution of controlled substances appearing in or destined for illicit traffic in the United States; and to recommend and support non-enforcement programs aimed at reducing the availability of illicit controlled substances on the domestic and international markets.

Dispensers

The entities that must submit data to the PDMP for drugs they have dispensed. This includes pharmacies (both in and out of state), hospitals, prescribers (including veterinarians), and correctional facilities.

DOJ’s mission is to enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States according to the law; to ensure public safety against threats foreign and domestic; to provide federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime; to seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior; and to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans.

FDA is a federal agency charged with protecting the public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices; ensuring the safety of foods, cosmetics, and radiation‐emitting products; and regulating tobacco products. The FDA is responsible for classifying and determining the appropriate schedule for all regulated drugs in the United States.

GAO is an independent, nonpartisan agency that works for Congress. Often called the "congressional watchdog," GAO investigates how the federal government spends taxpayer dollars. The head of GAO, the Comptroller General of the United States, is appointed to a 15-year term by the President from a slate of candidates Congress proposes.

HHS is the United States government’s principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves. HHS administers the Medicare program which is the nation’s largest health insurer, handling more than 1 billion claims per year.

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)

HIPAA is a federal law enacted in 1996 and provides federal protections for personal health information held by covered entities and gives patients an array of rights with respect to that information. At the same time, HIPAA is balanced so that it permits the disclosure of personal health information needed for patient care and other important purposes.

HRPDMP is administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance. HRPDMP provides three categories of grants: planning, implementation, and enhancement. To be eligible for funding, the state must already have a statute or regulation permitting the establishment of a PDMP.

IHS is an agency within the federal Department of Health and Human Services, that is responsible for providing federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives. The provision of health services to members of federally-recognized tribes grew out of the special government-to-government relationship between the federal government and Indian tribes.

The IJIS Institute is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to joining forces with its Member companies to unite the private and public sectors for improving mission-critical information sharing. The IJIS Institute is funded by its members and by grants from the U.S. Department of Justice, the Bureau of Justice Assistance, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The Council of State Governments (CSG) has drafted a new interstate compact that would enable states to develop an interoperable system to share prescription data. Since November 2009, CSG has worked with a variety of federal, state and local officials as well as national stakeholder organizations representing a variety of prescription monitoring programs nationwide.

Interstate Data Sharing

The sharing of PDMP reports by one state with another state based on a request of an authorized person (i.e. practitioner, pharmacist) or agency (i.e. regulatory boards, law enforcement).

The Model Act, prepared by the Alliance, provides a statutory framework for establishing and operating a PDMP. It also provides a framework for states with existing PDMPs to update their statutes. The Model Act is a consensus document that reflects the best practices of the states that currently run PDMPs as well as the knowledge of other states that have a long standing interest in PDMPs.

NAMSDL is a resource for governors, state legislators, attorneys general, drug and alcohol professionals, community leaders, the recovering community, and others striving for comprehensive, effective state drug and alcohol laws and policies. NAMSDL will draft, research, and analyze model drug and alcohol laws and related state statutes; provide access to our national network of drug and alcohol experts; and facilitate working relationships among state and community leaders and drug and alcohol professionals.

NASCSA has a primary purpose to provide a continuing mechanism through which state and federal agencies, as well as others can work to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of state and national efforts to prevent and control drug diversion and abuse, and to provide an educational forum to further this purpose.

NCSL is a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the nation's 50 states, its commonwealths and territories. NCSL provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issue.

Federal law requires drug products be identified and reported by drug manufactures to the FDA using a unique, three-segment number, called the National Drug Code (NDC), which is a universal product identifier for human drugs. FDA inputs the full NDC number and the information submitted as part of the listing process into a database known as the Drug Registration and Listing System (DRLS). Each listed drug product is assigned a unique 10-digit, 3-segment number. This NDC number identifies the labeler, product, and trade package size.

NSDUH provides national and state-level data on the use of tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs (including non-medical use of prescription drugs) and mental health in the United States. NSDUH is sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an agency of the U.S. Public Health Service in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

OJP provides innovative leadership to federal, state, local, and tribal justice systems, by disseminating state-of-the art knowledge and practices across America, and providing grants for the implementation of these crime fighting strategies. Because most of the responsibility for crime control and prevention falls to law enforcement officers in states, cities, and neighborhoods, the federal government can be effective in these areas only to the extent that it can enter into partnerships with these officers. Therefore, OJP does not directly carry out law enforcement and justice activities. Instead, OJP works in partnership with the justice community to identify the most pressing crime-related challenges confronting the justice system and to provide information, training, coordination, and innovative strategies and approaches for addressing these challenges.

ONDCP is a component of the Executive Office of the President. The principal purpose of ONDCP is to establish policies, priorities, and objectives for the Nation's drug control program. The goals of the program are to reduce illicit drug use, manufacturing, and trafficking, drug-related crime and violence, and drug-related health consequences.

PDMP

Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (used interchangeably with the term PMP).

The Prescription Monitoring Information Exchange (PMIX) National Architecture is a formal set of technical requirements that existing and future interstate data hubs need to comply with to enable hub to hub communication. A critical component of the architecture is the use of open standards (IT design elements that are in the public domain and available free of charge). Adopting open standards helps ensure a state’s ability to remain flexible and reduce costs.

PMP

Prescription Monitoring Program.

Prescribers

Prescribers are those who have the authority to prescribe controlled substances and are typically the group that requests the most solicited reports from a PDMP. This group can include: Medical Doctors, Osteopathic Doctors, Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Dentists, Veterinarians, Naturopathic Doctors, Optometrists, and Podiatrists.

SAMHSA is a branch of the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and oversees the NASPER grant program. SAMHSA’s mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities. In order to achieve this mission, SAMHSA has identified 8 Strategic Initiatives to focus the Agency's work on improving lives and capitalizing on emerging opportunities.

Solicited Reporting (Also known as reactive reporting)

A product of a PDMP where PDMP data is provided to an authorized user based upon their request for the information from the PDMP. The reports can be produced through an automated online system or manually by PDMP staff. Entities that receive these reports can include: prescribers, dispensers, law enforcement, and regulatory boards.

The TTAC is a partnership of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and Brandeis University’s Heller School for Social Policy and Management. The partnership is funded by BJA to provide assistance and training to government and other entities regarding PDMPs. The TTAC is helping BJA grantees and others in planning, implementing and enhancing prescription drug monitoring programs.

Unsolicited Reporting (Also known as proactive reporting)

A product of a PDMP where the prescription information is analyzed by PMP staff and questionable activities are then reported to appropriate personnel based on thresholds established by the PDMP. Entities that receive these reports can include: prescribers, dispensers, law enforcement, and regulatory boards.